EP 0311643 B1 19930310 - AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM
Title (en)
AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM
Publication
Application
Priority
- CA 2071725 A 19920619
- US 87689686 A 19860620
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO8707993A1] Automatic meter readers (15) are arranged for connection to customers' telephone lines (17) and for automatic dialing for transmission of meter data to a computer of a utility control center (11), communications being effected through a call collection module (12) which includes a plurality of call collection units connected to separate telephone lines (13) for handling of a large number of calls. Each meter reader (15) is battery-operated and includes a microprocessor which is powered up periodically for a short time interval to store data, to determine whether the number of power-ups since the last meter data transmission is such that a call to the utility control center (11) should be instituted, and to determine whether leakage, tamper or other conditions require an immediate call. An operator at the utility control center (11) can control and receive data from a very large number of meter readers (15) and readily obtain, display and print out a variety of types of data including cumulative consumption, peak rate and time-of-day data and data with respect to leakage conditions and tampering with a reader.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
H04M 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
H04M 11/002 (2013.01 - EP US)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 8707993 A1 19871230; AT E86814 T1 19930315; AU 602910 B2 19901101; AU 636948 B2 19930513; AU 6988791 A 19910418; AU 7692087 A 19880112; CA 1261982 A 19890926; CA 2071725 A1 19931220; CA 2071725 C 20000808; DE 3784722 D1 19930415; EP 0311643 A1 19890419; EP 0311643 A4 19891219; EP 0311643 B1 19930310; EP 0424994 A2 19910502; EP 0424994 A3 19931215; EP 0424994 B1 19970514; US 4817131 A 19890328
DOCDB simple family (application)
US 8701509 W 19870619; AT 87904600 T 19870619; AU 6988791 A 19910122; AU 7692087 A 19870619; CA 2071725 A 19920619; CA 540173 A 19870619; DE 3784722 T 19870619; EP 87904600 A 19870619; EP 90125201 A 19870619; US 87689686 A 19860620